or Hazel, in botany. See CORYLUS.

The kernels of the fruit have a mild, farinaceous, oily taste, agreeable to most palates. Squirrels and mice are fond of them, as well as some birds, such as jays, nutcrackers, &c. A kind of chocolate has been prepared from them, and there are instances of their having been formed into bread. The oil expressed from them is little inferior to the oil of almonds; and is used by painters and by chemists for receiving and retaining odours. The charcoal made of the wood is used by painters in drawing.—Some of the Highlanders, where superstition is not totally subdied, look upon the tree itself as unlucky; but are glad to get two of the nuts naturally conjoined, which is a good omen. These they call eno-chomblach, and carry them as an efficacious charm against witchcraft.

Evelyn tells us, that no plant is more proper for thickening of copses than the hazle, for which he directs the following expeditions method. Take a pole of hazle (ash or poplar may also be used) of 20 or 30 feet in length, the head a little lopped into the ground, giving it a chop near the ground to make it succumb; this fastened to the earth with a hook or two, and covered with some fresh mould at a competent depth (as gardeners lay their carnations), will produce a great number of suckers, and thicken and furnish a copse speedily.

HAZEL-Earth, or Hazley-Earth, a kind of red loam, which is said to be an excellent mixture with other sorts of earth; uniting what is too loose, cooling what is too hot, and gently retaining the moisture.

Witch-Hazel. See HAMAMALIS.